OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City,  (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Sergio Eduardo Castriani C.S.Sp., bishop prelate of Tefe, Brazil, as metropolitan archbishop of Manaus (area 64,079, population 1,551,000, Catholics 1,331,000, priests 163, permanent deacons 16, religious 298), Brazil. He succeeds Archbishop Luiz Soares Vieira, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

VATICAN POST ISSUES COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE FOR CHRISTMAS 2012

Vatican City,  (VIS) - A note released by the Governorate of Vatican City State announces the issue of the traditional commemorative envelope for Christmas 2012.

On the left side of the envelope there is a reproduction of the "Nativity and journey of the Three Kings", in tempera and gold leaf on board, of the Marchigian School (mid 15th century), on display in the Vatican Museums Picture Gallery.

The 60 cent stamp from the "Christmas 2012" series, issued on 6 November 2012, is franked with the special postmark in use on Christmas Day. The postmark is completed with the Latin phrase "Christus Natus est Alleluia" and the inscription "POSTE VATICANE. 25.12.2012". The serial code PV/78 is printed the back of the envelope in the lower right corner.

The commemorative envelope costs 3.50 Euros, or five Euros in a protective portfolio.

WORD OF GOD - THE LIGHT THAT LEADS TO JUSTICE AND PEACE

Vatican City,  (VIS) - The secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Olav Fykse Tveit, has addressed a traditional Christmas message to the faithful of the 349 communities that form this ecumenical fellowship. The text opens with two Biblical citations, the first from the Prophet Isaiah: "a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice", and the second from the Gospel of St. John: "What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it".

"What the Word has brought into being is life, and the life is the light of all people", writes Tveit. "In the coming year, the World Council of Churches will focus its witness and work around a simple prayer which serves as the theme of our tenth Assembly: 'God of life, lead us to justice and peace'".

This prayer will also be the theme of the tenth General Assembly of the WCC, which will take place in Busan, South Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013. The programme covers "five dimensions of being the church together in the world today – koinonia (one faith and fellowship in Christ), martyria (witness in the world), diakonia (serving justice and peace), ecumenical formation (for leadership) and inter-religious cooperation (a common context)".

"In the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, we are particularly aware of God’s gift of light revealed in the eternal Word who became flesh, and who dwells among us even now. This is the light that gives us hope for this present world in spite of disunity, abuse, hatred, violence, poverty, greed and corruption. Christ’s light is the lamp for our feet that shows us the way toward justice and peace. Even when our own wicks burn dimly, the Word of God withstands the darkness, faithfully bringing forth justice on our common way toward peace", concludes the secretary of the World Council of Churches.

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City,  (VIS) -  The Holy Father appointed:

- Daniela Leggio, official of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as head officer of the same dicastery.

- Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, currently apostolic nuncio in Guatemala, as apostolic nuncio in Australia.

PROCLAIMING CHRIST IN AMERICA TODAY

Vatican City,  (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon the International Congress "Ecclesia in America" on the Church in the American continent was inaugurated with a Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Basilica. The congress was organised by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Knights of Columbus in collaboration with the Institute for Guadalupan Studies, and will be inspired by the work of the Synodal Assembly, convoked by Blessed John Paul II in November and December 1987, entitled "Encounter with the living Jesus Christ: The way to conversion, communion and solidarity in America".

The Holy Father, who arrived at the Basilica at 7 p.m., greeted the participants, first recalling that "Blessed John Paul II had the foresight and intuition to improve the relationships of cooperation between the particular Churches throughout North, Central and South America, at the same time facilitating greater solidarity among the nations of the continent. Today these themes merit review in order to put Christ's redeeming message into practice with greater diligence, in the hope of reaping abundant rewards of sanctity and ecclesial renewal. The theme that guided the reflections of the Synodal Assembly can also serve as an inspiration for your work during these days. ... In effect, Jesus Christ's love and the power of His grace must take root ever more intensely in the hearts of the people, families and Christian communities of your nations, to allow them to progress with dynamism along the paths of harmony and fair progress".

The Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in America" focuses on "current challenges and difficulties which present specific and complex characteristics. Indeed, secularism and various religious groups are spreading throughout the continent, giving rise to numerous problems. Education and the promotion of a culture of life are matters of fundamental urgency in view of a widespread mentality that tends to attack the dignity of the person and damage the institution of marriage and family. How can one fail to be concerned about painful situations of emigration, displacement or violence, especially when linked to organised crime, narcotrafficking, corruption and arms dealing? And how should we face the painful inequalities and areas of poverty caused by questionable economic, political and social measures?"

The Pope emphasised that all these important questions require careful study, "yet in addition to their technical evaluation, the Catholic Church is convinced that the light for an adequate solution can only come from the encounter with the living Christ, which gives rise to attitudes and ways of acting based on love and truth. This is the decisive force which will transform the American continent. ... The love of Christ impels us to devote ourselves without reserve to proclaiming His name throughout America, bringing it freely and enthusiastically to the hearts of all its inhabitants. ... For this reason we ought to take up this commitment, ... encouraging priests, deacons and consecrated men and women and pastoral agents to purify and strengthen their interior lives ever more fully through a sincere relationship with the Lord and a worthy and frequent reception of the sacraments. This will be encouraged by suitable catechesis and a correct and ongoing doctrinal formation marked by complete fidelity to the Word of God and the Church's Magisterium and aimed at offering a response to the deepest questions and aspirations of the human heart. ... A renewed missionary spirit and zealous generosity in your commitment will be an irreplaceable contribution to what the universal Church expects and needs from the Church in America", concluded the Pope.